Aerial flare bomb



Febo 2 P. R. BASSETT AERIAL FLARE BOMB Filed Sept. 22, 1917 3Sheetssheet l ATTO/M/Ey 1=eb..2 2 ma. 1,571,617

P. R. BAssET-r- AERIAL FLARE BOMB y Filed sept. 22',- 1917 5sheets-sheet 2 CQURSE 0F REROPLANE H955 TUN REALI-5mt Feb.. 2 ,1926. v15ml? P. R. BASSETT AERIAL FLARE BOMB nFiled Sept. 22, 1917 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Fea- 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATIENT 1,571,617 carica.

PRESTON B. IOBASSETT, VOF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO' ELMER A.SPERBY,

. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EBIALJLABE BOMB.

Application med september 22,' 1911-. serial No. 192,776.

To all whom, z't may concer/n: Be it known that PRESTON- R. BAssm'r, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at 1716 NewkirkAvenue, Brookl n, in the county of Kings and State `off Lew York, hasinvented Certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Flare Bombs, 'ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flaming bombs or star shells adapted to bedropped from aeroplanes for illuminating `large areas. Bombs of thisnature are especially useful in i1- luminating the object of attack atnight. The advantages of being able to observe the effects upon thetarget of gun firekor of being able to see where to drop explosive bombsare obvious. With existing methods, it is often impossible to make suchobservations. Searchlights are commonly used, but

Y always be employed advantageously under for various reasonssearchlights cannot many conditions. Even when searchlights .are playingsuccessfully upon a target, they do not show where the shells arefalling with respect tothe target.

Also when an aeroplane is reconno1ter1ng over enemyterritory at night,the advantages of being able to illuminate the ground below in-searchingfor important polnts or objects, or in observing the activities of theenemy,1are very great.

The object 'of this invention is to produce a bomb which may be carriedby an aeroplane and dropped from a position above the earth or target,and which wall fall rapidly toward the earth or target until within apredetermined height thereabove, then emit abrilliant light,illuminating the region and objects below as it slowly descends.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have shown what I now consider t obe the pref` erred form of my invention:

Fig. 1a is a sectional elevation of the lower half of the bomb.

Fig. 1b is a sectional lelevation of the upper 'half of the bomb.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of several of the successive stages assumed bythe bomb after being dropped from an aeroplane.

. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig.A 1a, showing a `clockworks timing device.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-v-4, Fig. l l, of a releasmgdevlce.

Figa 5 is a detail of means for setting the clock works in motion.

v Fig. 6 is an elevation detail of means for norlilnally holding the.parts of the bomb toget er.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan detail of the same.

Fig. 8 is a view looking up from under the bomb, which ispartly cutaway, showing a time setting knob.

Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of a modified form of bomb.

In Figs. 1a and 1b the outer casing of the bomb 1 is shown as comprisingthree seci tions; the bottom section 2, the middle section 3 and the topsection 4. Confined within the middle and top sections is a parachute 5-to which is attached by means of a cord 6 and the parachute strings 7,-a cap 8 which embraces the upper end of ab1ock 19,- as

lindicated bythe dotted lines 20. -The block is made up of anilluminating substance, which may be pressed into a solid or semisolid`form, around which may be wrapped a piece of paper, zinc or othersuitable` material if desired, to prevent the illuminant from crumblingand which will be rapidly consumed when the illuminant is fired. The

block is designed upon being ignited to emit a light of greatbrillfancy.

The several sections are designed to be normally held together` 'andwhen dropped from an aeroplane, to fall to within a predetermineddistance from the earth and then fall apart. One method of accomplishingthis is as follows: The middle Section 3 which may be a flat piece ofmaterial or two semi-cylindrical pieces 9 and 10 hinged together on oneside as at 11 Fig. 7, may b( wrapped :around the bottom section 2 as at12 Fig. 1=l and around the top section 4 as at 13 Fig. l". One or moresprings -14 are shown attached to the inside of section 3 by anysuitable means, such as by rivets or screws 15. The ends of thesesprings may be bent to form eyelets 16 into which may be inserted a hook17 to hold the ends of the springs together and thus hold the middlesection 3 of the bomb folded firmly over the bottom and top sections 2and 4. One or more pins 18 protruding from section 2 into holes insection 3 or. any other suitable means may be provided to preventsection 2 from slipping out from section 3. Similar notches 32.

provision may be made to 4prevent premature disengagement betweensectlons 3 and 4. 1

Springs 14 are designed with a tendency `to straighten out` so that ifhooks 17'v are removed, section 3 will be thrown open and the several.sections fall apart. In orderto accomplish this, I have shown a rod 20extending downwardly through the bomb. .Hooks 17 are shown attached torod 20 b y passing through it, so that if the rod 1s raised, the hookswill be removed. A spring 21 pressing at one end against a projection 22on section 2, and at the other end against'V a pin'23 in rod 20, tendsto raise the rod, but is prevented from so doing by a disk 24 whichengages'rod 20 ina notch 25` in the rod. Disk 24 is pinned to a shaft 25and through a lug` lixed on the disk, engages a cog wheel 31 in any of aplurality of ,Cog wheel 3l is pinned to a shaft 33, and is designed tobe rotated by a spring 26. It will be seen that the rotation of cogwheel 31 will be imparted through lug 30 to disk 24. A system of gearsor clock work 27 having a pawl and ratchet escapement 28 may be-provided to retard the rotation of the disk.

A notch 29 is cut inthe periphery of the disk.y to allow rod20 to slipthrough when` the disk has turned around so that the notch wheel 3l.'(Fig. a).

reaches the rod. Obviously the greater the distance through which notch29 has to turn before reaching rod 20, the longer.v it will take torelease said rod. Shaft 25 may be allowed to protrude through the bottomof.

the bomb, and has attached to its end a knob 34 on which is provided agraduated scale 35 Fig. 8 or'reading in connection with a line 36 on thecasing of the bomb. By pulling down on knob 34, lug 30 disengages cogKnob 34 may then be turned until the proper reading of the scale 35 inconjunction with line 36 is effected.

TheA knob is then released, whereupon, rod 20 which will have been drawndown against the pressure of spring 21, will raise disk 24 again, andcause lug 30 to ire-enter one of notches 32. Notch 29 in disk 24 willnow have been placed the desired distance from rod 20, so that the saidrod will become released after the clock -work is set in'motion.

. tance through which shaft 25.

may be released by raising the detent. 'Io

accomplish this, I have shown a pawl emamoved down far enough to allowpawl 42.

to slip under detent 37 when knob 34 is pulled down, Ihave shown a Ipin45 in shaft 25, which is designed to limit the disdisk 24 and arm 20maybe drawn.

In order to prevent accidental releasing of the timing mechanism` I haveshown a stop 46 on disk 24. The disk may be turned in the direction ofarrow 47 (Fig. 4) until stop 4(3.com'es under rod 20. Stop 46 will thenprevent the downward movement of the .said rod. Disk 24 with the stop 46may be kept normally in this position. A lug` 4,8 onthedisk may bystriking `a pin 49 in the casing of the-bomb, serveto indicate when-stop46 is in the proper position. The.

said lug and pin may also serve to prevent the turning of disk 24 farenough in the wrong direction to allow rod 2O to slip through notch 29.either when positioning Stop '46 below rod 20 or when shifting lug 30 innotches 32.

Embedded in the bottom of the illuminant block 19, I have shown 'aIsmall quantity of igniting substance 50. A pin 51 attached by means ofa cord 52 to the lowerv part of the bomb at 53 is 'shown embedded in thesubstance 50. The said pin may be made rough, and is designed uponbeingr withdrawn, to ignite substance 50 which will in turn ignite thelluminant 19.L Shaft 33 of thevtiming mechanism may be made` long enoughto engage pin 5l to prevent its withdraWal-undernormal conditions.

The operation of the bomb is as follows:

The operator in an aeroplane, being above a position or object which hewishes to i1- luminate, knowing the altitude at which he y is flying,sets themechanism by kmeans 4ofq knob 34. to uncouplethe severalsections 2, 3 and 4 of the bomb a. predetermined length of time afterthe clock Work is set in motion. He then presses down on the top of rod20 which protrudes through the bomb near its top at 54. The bomb is thendropped at which time rod 20 is released, and the timing mechanismbegins to move. The bomb falls wholly intact as in position A, Fig. 2`vane 55 serving to keep it upright as it falls. A predetermined lengthof time after the bomb is released', at-which time it is designed tohave fallen to within an advantageous distance above the ground or thetarget, rod 2 0 will be released, permitting spring 21 to move itupward, withdrawin` hooks 1T and allowing section 3 of the casing tospring open. position B, Fig. 2. The top section 4 will then fall off..as the parachute lags and retards the falling of the illumincnt 19.while section 2 continuing to fall rapidly. withdraws pin 51, ignitingthe illuminant. While the parachute opens up and suspends the flaringrilluminant in the air. Fig. 2. position C.

In order to prevent injuryv to the parachute by a sudden jerk b v the.illuminant, a shock absorbing member 6 may be placed in the cord 6.Member 6 ma)7 comprise a spring. or a soft. wire coil which will ab-Sorb the shock vb v opening` out Islowly and remaining open.

As the illuminant block 19 is designed to burn away. the cap will ofcourse be made with sufficient weight to support the parachute againstcollapsing before the illuminant has been entirely consumed.

B v keeping the bomb wholl)Y intact through the greater part of itstall` position A. Fig. 2.' a4 minimum amount of resisting surface isoffered to the wind. thereby minimizing the drift of the bomb.

In Fig. 9. I have shown a modification of the method of effecting theopening of the shell. In this form` the middle section 3 is shown in twoparts 9 and 10 wrapped around the bottom section 2 as in the ther form,and held normally in this position by straps 56 and 57 attached to thesaid parts but top.

and passing through openings in section 1 and locked together by a pin17 inserted 1n holes in said straps. Pin 17 is lattached to rod Q0. sothat when the. rod is raised the pin will be lifted out of holes 60,thereby releasing the straps.

The top section 4 is shown as placed over the top of the middle sectiony3 thus holding the parts 9 and thereof together at the A small ridge 61extending part vway around the inside of section 4 onopposite sides. mayengage depressions 62 in section Il. to prevent section 4 from slippingoff. A spring 63 pressing out on parts 9' and 10 may be provided tospread parts 9 and 10 when straps 56 and 57 are released.

-The opening of these parts while the bomb is falling will cause asudden retardation .of the upper parts of the shell, thus throwing themoff. and allowing the parachute (not shown in this figure) to open,while the ignition of the illuminant may be effected in the same manneras shown in` the other form.

In accordance with the provisions of the `ether with the appara-tus,which I now consider to' represent the best embodiment thereof, but. Idesire scribed, some of these may be altered and others omitted withoutinterfering with the more general results outlined, and the inventionextends to such use. For instance it is obvious that the illuminant neednot be placed within the covering or casing 3 of the bomb. as the bombcasing mav be made in numerous other forms, wherein the illuminant maybe attached in any suitable manner to the outside.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In an illuminating bomb, a'shell, an illuminant and a suspendingmeans therefor within said shell, adjustable time releasing means forreleasing said illuminant and said suspending means, means for normallyholding said releasing means inoperative. means for rendering' saidreleasing means operative, and means for preventing the acci- `ments inthe 'combination and relations dedentalhoperation of said time releasingof said time releasing means.`

3. An illuminating device adapted to be dropped from an aeroplanecomprising a parachute, an illuminant, means for connecting saidilluminant and said parachute, means for holding said parachute closedfor a predetermined length of time after said dropping, shock absorbinmeans in said connecting means, means or releasing said parachute," andmeans for igniting said illuminant.

4. An illuminating device adapted to be dropped from an aeroplane, comri a parachute, an illuminant attache thereto, means for holding saidYparachute inoperative, means for rendering erative a predeterminedlength of time after said dropping, illuminant from said parachute,illuminant.

5.V In an illuminating bomb, a easing, a parachute and an illuminantattached thereto within said casing, time controlled means for removinsaid casing from said parachute and said illuminant, an ignitinsubstance adjacent said illuminant, apted exerting a ,sudden jerk on forpreventing the acci- Y said parachute opand means for igniting said iwheil subjected to friction to ignite, for igoperation of said member.

niting said illuminant, and means actuated, by the removal of saidcasing for subjecting4 said substance to friction.

6. In an illuminating bomb, a casing comprising vseparable sections, anilluminant IWithin said casing, means attached to said illuminantadapted upon being released to support said illuminant in the air, timecontrolled means for causing separation of said sections to release saidsupporting means and said illuminant, and means actuated by theseparation of said sections for igniting said illuminant.

7. A bomb comprising normally inoperative means for retarding thedescent thereof, means including a' manually operable member forrendering said retarding means operative and releasable means forpreventing operation of said member.

8. A bomb comprising normally inoperative means for retarding thedescent thereof, means for rendering said retarding means operative uponthe lapse of a predetermined time, aimanually operable member forstarting the operation of said second named means and releasable meansfor preventing '9. The combination of an illuminant, Vmeans forsupporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for containing saidilluminant and'said supporting means, means normally tending to releasesaid illuminant and said supporting means from said casing, means formaintaining said releasing means in inoperative condition, clockworkmechanismA for rendering said releasing means'operative after apredetermined interval of time, and

means for igniting said illuminant.

10. The combination of an illuminant,l a device for supportingsaidilluminant in the air, means for holding said device in an inoperativecondition, means normally tendin to release said device from said rstnamed means, means for maintaining said releasing means inoperative,clockwork mechanism for rendering said releasing means operative, andigniting means for said-illuminant.

11.,The combination of an illuminant, a

.normally inoperative device for supporting said i'lluminant'in the air,means normally tending to render said device operative, means formaintaining said -first named means inv inoperative condition, clockworkmechanism for rendering said first named means operative, and ignitingmeans for said illuminant. Y

12. The combination of an illuminant,

' means for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for saidilluniinant and said supporting means, said casing comprising f aplurality of sections, a member uniting all ofv said sections, meansnormally tending to operate said member to releasesaid sections, andmeans for preventing operanaber renders said said member to release'said sections, means v for preventing operation of said first meansuntil after a predetermined interval of time,

operation of said memand means wherebI ast-named means operative.

14. The combination of an illuminant,.

means for supporting said illuminant inthe air, a casing for saidilluminant and said"- supporting means, said casing comprising aplurality of sections, a mem er uniting all of said sections andoperable to release said sections, means for operating said memberafter'a predetermined interval to release saidsections,l and means wherebysaid releasing operates to ignite said illuminant. y

15. The combinationv of Aanl illuminant, means for supporting saidilluminant in the air, a casing for said illuminant andA said supportingmeans, said casing comprising a plurality of sections, means connectingsaid sections and operable to release said sections, time-controlledmechanism in one of said sections for operating said connecting means torelease said sections, said illuminant being positioned in another o fsaid sections.

16. The combination of van illuminant,V

means for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for saidilluminant and said supporting means, said casing comprising a pluralityof sections, means connecting said sections and operable to release saidsections, time-controlled means in one of said sections for operatingsaid connecting means to release said sections, said illuminant'be-v ingpositioned in another of said sections and said supporting means beingpositioned in a third section.

17 The combination of an illuminant, ineansfor supporting saidilluminant in the air, a casing for said illuminant and said supportinmeans, said lcasing coinprising a plura ity Aof sections, means[connecting. said sections operable to release said sections,time-controlled mechanism in one 'of said sections for operating 'saidconnecting means to release said sections, said illuminantV beingpositioned in another ,of

said sections. and a connection between said time mechanism and saidilluminant whereby separation of. the respective sections ignites saidilluminant.

Y In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

PRESTON R. BASSETT.

